Boko Haram: FG angry with Senate over handling of anti-terrorism bill

The Federal Government is angry with the Senate over its removal of a ‘vital’ clause from the anti-terrorism bill passed on Wednesday.

The executive bill (A bill for an Act to amend Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and Other Related Matters) is part of the strategy by government to tackle the insecurity caused by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.

The clause has to do with empowerment of the Office of the National Security Adviser to co-ordinate the activities of all security and enforcement agencies in the country.

Its adoption would have formed the basis for the United States of America to establish what it calls Fusion Centre in the country.

Government and the security community are worried that Nigeria is now at the risk of losing the benefit of such an important facility in the fight against terrorism.

They fear that without the clause, the co-ordination of the security agencies will be very difficult.

It was learnt that the rejection of the section was influenced by some senators from the South.

The clause- Section 1 of the Act- reads in part: “The Office of the National Security Adviser (in this Act referred to as ONSA) shall be the co-ordinating body for all security and enforcement agencies under this Act and shall: (a)provide support to all relevant security, intelligence, law enforcement agencies and military services to prevent and combat acts of terrorism in Nigeria.

(b) “ensure the effective formulation and implementation of a counter-terrorism strategy for Nigeria.

( c) “build capacity for the effective discharge of the functions of all relevant security, intelligence, law enforcement and military services under this Act or any other law on terrorism in Nigeria; and

(d) “do such other acts or things that are necessary for the effective performance of the functions of the relevant security and enforcement agencies under this Act.”

A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Going by the way the Senate passed the bill, the fight against terrorism is certainly being threatened. The implication is that all security agencies will be left to operate independent of each other without relating with the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“This is against the new focus of the Federal Government in promoting synergy in the operations of all security agencies.

“Our fears border on the fact that Boko Haram and other terrorist organisations may capitalise on the loopholes in the law to wreak more havoc. This bill as passed by the Senate will not assist counter-terrorism fight.

“Also, when the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton was here, she announced that a Fusion Centre will be established to serve as a pool for intelligence gathering and coordination for counter-terrorism.

“The Fusion Centre ought to be domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser. But with the bill passed by the Senate, we may lose this security advantage in the sub-region. This is a threat to the centre being built by the US.

Responding to a question, the source added: “We learnt that some Southern senators in the relevant Committee deliberately shielded the facts from the Senate before it removed the clause and passed the bill.

“I think these Southern senators might have had a secret agenda of undermining security coordination against terrorists. Only God knew their motive.”

Asked if nothing could be done, the source said: “The House had passed the bill with the clause intact. This means we have to make a strong representation to the Joint Review Committee of the two chambers to restore the said clause.

“But the bill as passed by the Senate on Wednesday will leave terrorists to win the ‘war’ against security agencies.”

It is time for the islamist terrorist regions to provide security to its people. Nigeria is not one and will never be, ekwerenedu preaches nigeria unity because it is a platform that gives him and his senate partners ability to loot our wealth to the detriment of the masses. what has the masses gain since 1999 from the so call democracy ? is it jobs, roads, water, security, humane transportation etc ?